System for forming a decorative cover for a plant having substantial horizontal growth

ABSTRACT

A decorative cover for use with a plant having substantial horizontal growth is provided, as well as methods of making and using same. The decorative cover includes a base in which the plant can be disposed and a decorative border connected to and extending from the base. The decorative border has a curvilinear, undulating configuration which permits the decorative border to hold, support and cushion individual leaves and petioles of the plant to prevent damage thereto and to accommodate horizontal growth of the leaves and petioles of the plant.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/669,989, filedSep. 24, 2003, now abandoned; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No.10/263,487, filed Oct. 2, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,662,494, issued Dec.16, 2003; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/859,954, filed May17, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,525,303, issued Feb. 25, 2003; whichclaims benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of provisional application U.S.Ser. No. 60/207,594, filed May 26, 2000; the contents of each of whichare hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to decorative flower pot covers used tocover pots or containers containing plants, and more particularly, butnot by way of limitation, to decorative flower pot covers used to coverpots or containers containing plants having substantial horizontalgrowth, such as, but not by way of limitation, gesneriads such asAfrican violets, as well as the systems utilized to form such decorativeflower pot covers, and the methods of using same.

2. Brief Description of the Art

Flower pot covers, also called decorative covers, have been used todecoratively cover a pot or container holding a plant for a number ofyears. Some flower pot covers, as well as the apparatus and methods usedin their construction, are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,182,entitled “Article Forming System”, issued to Weder et al on Sep. 27,1988, which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference.

These decorative covers have been used to cover and hide the pot, and toact as a decorative wrap to make the present of a potted plant morefestive. However, the decorative covers described above do not functionwell when used with plants having substantial horizontal growth, such asgesneriads, and in particular, African violets. Such plants grow muchdifferently than other plants and therefore have differentvulnerabilities. Gesneriads frequently are very delicate, and theunderneath side of the leaves and petioles may be damaged by thedecorative covers of the prior art. Such decorative covers are typicallyprovided with a decorative border which flattens in response to theweight of leaves or flowers of a plant disposed therein, and when aplant having substantial horizontal growth is disposed therein, theconfiguration formed in the decorative border is distorted or lost. Insuch a flattened condition, the decorative border cannot hold or supportthe leaves and flowers of a plant having substantial horizontal growth.In fact, the material from which the decorative border of the decorativecover is constructed may rip or tear in response to the weight of theleaves and flowers of the plant having substantial horizontal growthdisposed therein.

Therefore, improved decorative covers for plants having substantialhorizontal growth, as well as methods for packaging and containing suchplants for show, sale or maintenance thereafter, are being sought. It isto such decorative covers and methods for packaging plants havingsubstantial horizontal growth that the present invention is directed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a decorative cover having a decorativeborder which holds, cushions and supports the leaves, petioles and/orflowers of a plant having substantial horizontal growth to preventdamage thereto. Broadly, the decorative cover is provided with a basehaving a closed lower end, an open upper end and an object retainingspace. The decorative cover also has a decorative border or skirtextending from the open upper end of the base so as to be disposed at anupward and outward angle with respect to the open upper end of the base,and the angle at which the decorative border or skirt extends from thebase of the decorative cover is at least 40° relative to the horizontalaxis of the base. The decorative border has a length which is at leastsubstantially equal to the length of the leaves, petioles and flowerssupported thereon when a plant is disposed in the object retaining spaceof the base of the decorative cover, and desirably, the length of thedecorative border will be greater than the length of the leaves,petioles and flowers supported on the decorative border of thedecorative cover.

The decorative border has a curvilinear, undulating, sinusoidal, orother similar configuration, which provides resiliency that permits thedecorative border to yield to the weight of individual leaves, petiolesand/or flowers, and to simultaneously hold and cushion the individualleaves, petioles and/or flowers of the plant supported on the decorativeborder. That is, the decorative border compresses underneath leaves,petioles and/or flowers supported thereon, thereby forming a partiallycompressed condition thereunder. When the decorative border is in acompressed condition, the angle of the decorative border relative to thebase of the decorative cover decreases slightly such that the decorativeborder yields to the weight of the leaves, petioles and/or flowers ofthe plant while still maintaining the undulating configuration of thedecorative border such that the decorative border holds, cushions andsupports the leaves, petioles and/or flowers of the plant rather thanflattening to a horizontal position which cannot provide any cushion orsupport.

The method of using the decorative cover includes the steps of providingthe above-defined decorative cover, providing a plant having substantialhorizontal growth contained in a pot, and disposing the pot containingthe plant into the object retaining space of the decorative cover suchthat the base of the decorative cover substantially surrounds andencompasses the pot. The leaves and petioles of the plant are thenpositioned and arranged on the decorative border of the decorative coverwhereby the decorative border yields to the weight of and resilientlycushions and holds the leaves and petioles of the plant. As statedabove, the decorative border extends from the base of the decorativecover at an angle of at least 40° relative to the horizontal axis of thebase of the decorative cover, and the yielding of the decorative borderin response to the weight of the leaves and petioles of the plant mayresult in a decrease in the angle of the decorative border whilemaintaining the undulating configuration of the decorative border whichholds, supports and cushions the leaves and petioles of the plant havingsubstantial horizontal growth.

An object of the present invention is to provide a decorative cover forplants having substantial horizontal growth.

Another object of the present invention, while achieving thebefore-stated object, is to provide methods for using a decorative coverfor plants having substantial horizontal growth with such a plant.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a decorative cover of the prior art.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the decorative cover of FIG. 1, whereina potted plant is disposed in the decorative cover.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a decorative cover constructed inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the decorative cover shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a pot having a plant with substantialhorizontal growth disposed therein.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the decorative cover of FIG. 2 havingthe potted plant of FIG. 4 disposed therein, thereby forming adecorative assembly.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a transport and display container havingthe decorative assembly of FIG. 5 disposed therein.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a decorative coverconstructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of yet another embodiment of adecorative cover constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a decorativecover constructed in accordance with the present invention, wherein thedecorative cover is provided with a collar.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a sheet of material from which thedecorative cover of FIG. 2 is constructed, one edge thereof being turnedupwardly to show a lower surface of the sheet of material.

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic, cross-sectional view of an article formingsystem for forming the sheet of the material of FIG. 10 into thedecorative cover of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The difficulty in presenting a plant having substantial horizontalgrowth, such as gesneriads and more specifically African violets, forsale, for show, or simply as an object of household enjoyment, is inpresenting a plant in complete health. Many types of gesneriads, andspecifically African violets, are known for their beauty, delicacy, andtheir substantial horizontal growth pattern. This substantial horizontalgrowth pattern, as opposed to a primarily vertical growth pattern seenin other types of flowering plants, places both the leaves and flowersof such plants at risk for damage to the underneath sides thereof. Thisdamage or degradation is seen in off color or brown, sunken areas whichoccur at the points of contact against the flower pot cover. Further, anumber of disease organisms can also enter the plant at the point ofdegradation, causing further damage to the plant. Primary pests to somegesneriads, including African violets, include cyclamen mites and broadmites, each of which is about 1/100-inch long and cannot be detectedwithout magnification. In particular, broad mites attack older, bottomleaves and petioles, attacking both the upper and lower sides of thedamaged surface. These attacks cause the leaves to turn yellowish, andthe edges of the leaves may curl under.

Description of FIGS. 1-5

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, showntherein and designated herein by the reference numeral 10 is adecorative cover of the prior art, wherein the decorative cover 10 isprovided with a base 12 and a decorative border 14. As shown in FIG. 1A,the decorative cover 10 has a potted plant 16 having leaves 18, petioles20 and flowers 22, disposed therein. Typically, the decorative border 14of the decorative cover 10 is provided with a preformed angle A which isgenerally about 30° relative to a horizontal axis 24 of the base 12 ofthe decorative cover 10, as shown in FIG. 1. When the potted plant 16 isdisposed in the decorative cover 10, the decorative border 14 of thedecorative cover 10 flattens out, and the angle A decreases until thedecorative border 14 approaches a horizontal alignment, that is, thehorizontal axis 24 of the base 12 of the decorative cover 10, as shownin FIG. 1A. In doing so, the material from which the decorative border14 of the decorative cover 10 is constructed will be stretched,resulting in a loss of any configuration provided in the decorativeborder 14 and increasing the possibility of ripping or tearing occurringin the decorative border 14 and/or the base 12 of the decorative cover10. Thus, the decorative border 14 of the decorative cover 10 is unableto hold, support or cushion the plant 16, if the plant 16 disposedtherein has substantial horizontal growth, which results in damage tothe plant 16.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 1A, the decorative border 14 of thedecorative cover 10 is generally shorter in length than the length ofthe leaves 18, petioles 20 and/or flowers 22 of the potted plant 16disposed in the decorative cover 10. The portion of the leaves 18,petioles 20 and/or flowers 22 of the potted plant 16 which extend beyondthe decorative border 14 of the decorative cover 10 will not besupported by the decorative border 14 and will droop, resulting inpossible damage or degradation thereto. The point of contact of the edgeof the decorative border 14 of the decorative cover 10 on the leaves 18,petioles 20 and/or flowers 22 of the plant 16 which extend beyond theedge of the decorative border 14 will be particularly susceptible todamage and degradation thereto.

Shown in FIG. 2 and designated by the reference numeral 30 is adecorative flower pot cover constructed in accordance with the presentinvention. The decorative flower pot cover 30, sometimes herein referredto as a decorative cover, includes a base 32 and a decorative border orskirt 34. The base 32 of the decorative cover 30 has a closed lower end36, an open upper end 38, an outer peripheral surface 40, and an objectretaining space 42, extending from the open upper end 38 to the closedlower end 36 thereof. The decorative border 34 of the decorative cover30 is provided with an upper end 44 and a lower end 46, and the lowerend 46 of the decorative border 34 of the decorative cover 30 isconnected to the open upper end 38 of the base 32 of the decorativecover 30. The decorative border 34 of the decorative cover 30 extendsfrom the open upper end 38 of the base 32 of the decorative cover 30 soas to be disposed at an upward and outward angle with respect to theopen upper end 38 of the base 32 of the decorative cover 30, wherein theangle is steeper than that of the decorative border 14 of the prior artdecorative cover 10. The decorative border 34 of the decorative cover 30is disposed at an angle B of at least about 40°, preferably in a rangeof from about 40° to about 55°, relative to the horizontal axis 48 ofthe base 32 of the decorative cover 30. The decorative cover 30 isformed from a sheet of material 50 (shown in FIG. 10 and described indetail hereinafter).

It will be appreciated that the characteristics of the decorative flowerpot cover 30 may permit the decorative flower pot cover 30 to beflattened and then later unflattened, wherein the decorative flower potcover 30 returns to its preformed, original shape without substantialloss of its preformed shape, illustrating a flexible yet resilient andshape-sustaining nature of the decorative flower pot cover 30, andthereby permitting ease of shipping and/or storage.

The decorative flower pot cover 30 is adapted to receive a plant 54,which is illustrated in FIG. 4 as being disposed in a flower pot 56. Theplant 54 has substantial horizontal growth, such as an African violet,and includes one or more flowers 58, leaves 60 and/or petioles 62.

As shown in FIG. 2, the decorative border 34 of the decorative cover 30has a length 64 sufficient to support the flowers 58, leaves 60 andpetioles 62 of the plant 54 disposed therein, that is, the length 64 ofthe decorative border 34 of the decorative cover 30 is at leastsubstantially equal to the length of the flowers 58, leaves 60 andpetioles 62 supported thereon when the plant 54 is disposed in theobject retaining space 42 of the base 32 of the decorative cover 30, anddesirably, the length 64 of the decorative border 34 of the decorativecover 30 will be greater than the length of the flowers 58, leaves 60and petioles 62 supported thereon.

When the plant 54 is disposed in the decorative flower pot cover 30, thedecorative border 34 of the decorative cover 30 is configured to hold,cushion and support the flowers 58, leaves 60 and/or petioles 62 of theplant 54 without damage thereto, as described in detail herein after.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the configuration of the decorative border 34of the decorative flower pot cover 30 may be an undulating, curvilinear,sinusoidal configuration or fluted configuration having a succession ofwaves and curves. This configuration is created to allow for excessmaterial to form a gentle, cushioning pattern to hold, support andcushion each individual leaf 60 and/or petiole 62 of the plant 54, andthus slightly decrease the angle at which the decorative border 34 isdisposed relative to the horizontal axis 48 of the base 32 of thedecorative cover 30. Such a configuration permits each portion of thedecorative border 34 of the decorative cover 30 holding a leaf or leaves60, and petiole or petioles 62, to individually relax and compressunderneath each leaf/leaves 60 or petiole/petioles 62, thereby providinggentle, cushioning support for each individual leaf 60 and/or petiole62. It will be appreciated that any other configuration known in the artmay be utilized in providing the configuration of the decorative border34 of the decorative cover 30, as long as the configuration can bemaintained upon disposal of the plant 54 therein and so long as thedecorative border 34 of the decorative cover 30 operates as shown and/ordescribed herein.

It will be understood that the decorative flower pot cover 30, andparticularly, the decorative border 34, has resilient properties. Thatis, the decorative border 34 of the decorative cover 30 is designed tosupport and cushion the individual weight of the leaves 60 and/orpetioles 62 of the plant 54 and yield downward to such weight, therebydecreasing the angle at which the decorative border 34 is disposedrelative to the horizontal axis 48 of the base 32 of the decorativecover 30 while still maintaining the undulating configuration of thedecorative border 14. Yet, when the weight of the leaves 60 and/orpetioles 62 of the plant 54 is removed, the decorative border 34 (or anyportion thereof) of the decorative cover 30 will tend to “spring back”to the preformed angle B, thus demonstrating the resiliency of thedecorative border 34 of the decorative cover 30.

In a method of use of the decorative flower pot cover 30 as shown inFIGS. 2-5, the decorative flower pot cover 30 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 anddescribed herein is provided. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the plant 54having substantial horizontal growth, such as an African violet,disposed in the flower pot 56, is provided. The flower pot 56 has anupper end 66, a lower end 68, an outer peripheral surface 70, and aplant receiving space 72. Pots and containers which can support a planthaving substantial horizontal growth are known in the art andcommercially available, so the characteristics and features of a pot orcontainer that can be utilized as the flower pot 56 are well known. Theplant 54 is disposed in the object retaining space 42 of the base 32 ofthe decorative flower pot cover 30, as shown in FIG. 5, oralternatively, the plant 54, with the appropriate growing medium, suchas soil, dirt, and/or other materials (not shown), is disposed into thedecorative flower pot cover 30. A decorative assembly 110 is formed whenthe plant 54, which may or may not be disposed in the flower pot 56, isdisposed in the decorative flower pot cover 30. The base 32 of thedecorative flower pot cover 30 is sized to substantially surround andencompass the outer peripheral surface 70 of the flower pot 56, oralternatively, when no flower pot 56 is utilized, the base 32 of thedecorative flower pot cover 30 is sized to substantially surround andencompass any growing medium provided with the plant 54. The leaves 60and petioles 62 of the plant 54 are then positioned and arranged on thedecorative border 34 of the decorative flower pot cover 30. The length64 of the decorative border 34 of the decorative cover 30 is at leastsubstantially equal to the length of the flowers 58, leaves 60 andpetioles 62 supported thereon, and desirably, the length 64 of thedecorative border 34 of the decorative cover 30 is greater than thelength of the flowers 58, leaves 60 and petioles 62 supported thereon.Therefore, the flowers 58, leaves 60 and petioles 62 do not extendbeyond the upper end 44 of the decorative border 34 of the decorativecover 30.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the plant 54 is disposed in the objectretaining space 42 of the base 32 of the decorative cover 30, thecurvilinear, undulating configuration of the decorative border 34, whichprovides a cushion for the delicate leaves 60 and petioles 62 of theplant 54, permits the decorative border 34 to partially compress inresponse to the weight of individual leaves 60 and petioles 62 of theplant 54. During compression of the decorative border 34 of thedecorative flower pot cover 30, the angle of the decorative border 34relative to the horizontal axis 48 of the base 32 of the decorativecover 30 decreases so that the decorative border 34 moves toward acompressed condition, that is, the angle of the decorative border 34decreases from angle B shown in FIG. 2 to angle C shown in FIG. 5, whilestill maintaining the undulating configuration of the decorative border34 of the decorative cover 30. Desirably, the angle C is in a range offrom about 25° to about 40° relative to the horizontal axis 48 of thebase 32 of the decorative cover 30, and more desirably, the angle C isabout 30° relative to the horizontal axis 48 of the base 32 of thedecorative cover 30. The excess material provided by the undulatingconfiguration of the decorative border 34 of the decorative cover 30permits the decorative border 34 to resiliently and gently supportindividual leaves 60 and petioles 62 of the plant 54 when the plant 54is disposed therein to prevent damage thereto and to accommodate thehorizontal growth of said leaves 60 and petioles 62, while maintainingthe integrity of the decorative border 34 of the decorative cover 30.

Description of FIG. 6

Another advantage of the decorative border 34 of the decorative cover 30will now be described with reference to the decorative assembly 110,which includes the decorative cover 30 and the plant 54 disposedtherein. However, it should be understood that any of the decorativecovers described hereinafter can be employed in place of the decorativecover 30 of the decorative assembly 110 without departing from theinventive concept set forth herein.

Referring now to FIG. 6, shown therein is a transport and displaycontainer 112 having an upper end 114, a lower end 116, a sidewall 118,an object retaining space 120 defined by the upper end 114, lower end116, and sidewall 118 of the transport and display container 112, andone or more openings 122 in the upper end 114 of the transport anddisplay container 112 which allow access to the object retaining space120 of the transport and display container 112. The transport anddisplay container 112 is sized and dimensioned to hold one or moredecorative assemblies 110 in a stationary, stable position. Each opening122 in the transport and display container 112 is adapted to receive thebase 32 of one of the flower pot covers 30 so that the decorativeassembly 110 formed of one of the flower pot covers 30 and the plant 54disposed therein is stably supported in the transport and displaycontainer 112. The decorative assembly 110 is inserted through theopening 122 and into the object retaining space 120 of the transport anddisplay container 112 such that the decorative assembly 110 isstabilized therein by engagement of the lower end 46 of the decorativeborder 34 of the decorative flower pot cover 30 of the decorativeassembly 110 with the portion of the upper end 114 of the transport anddisplay container 112 which is adjacent the opening 122 therein.Therefore, the upper end 44 of the decorative border 34 of thedecorative cover 30 extends beyond the upper end 114 of the transportand display container 112 and is exposed.

It should be noted that the depth of the object retaining space 120 ofthe transport and display container 112 can be such that the closedlower end 36 of the base 32 of the decorative cover 30 of the decorativeassembly 110 supportingly engages the lower end 116 of the transport anddisplay container 112. This engagement may contribute to stablysupporting the decorative assembly 110 in the transport and displaycontainer 112. Alternatively, the object retaining space 120 of thetransport and display container 112 may be provided with a greater depthsuch that the lower end 36 of the base 32 of the decorative cover 30 ofthe decorative assembly 110 is suspended in the object retaining space120 of the transport and display container 112 and is therefore not incontact with the lower end 116 of the transport and display container112. In this instance, the engagement of the lower end 46 of thedecorative border 34 of the decorative cover 30 of the decorativeassembly 110 and the portion of the upper end 114 of the transport anddisplay container 112 adjacent the opening 122 is responsible for stablymaintaining the decorative assembly 110 in a fixed position in thetransport and display container 112.

When it is desired to remove the decorative assembly 110 from thetransport and display container 112, an individual grasps the decorativeassembly 110 by the exposed decorative border 34 of the decorative cover30 and lifts the decorative assembly 110 from the transport and displaycontainer 112. The resilient characteristics of the decorative border 34of the decorative cover 30 allow for flexibility in movement for removalof the decorative assembly 110 from the transport and display container112 while supporting the plant 54 disposed in the object retaining space42 of the base 32 of the decorative cover 30.

Description of FIGS. 7-9

For the decorative covers of the present invention to support the growthof a plant having substantial horizontal growth without causing damageto the delicate leaves and petioles thereof, a decorative border of thedecorative cover must not only be provided with a length which is atleast substantially equal to the length of the leaves, petioles andflowers supported thereon which extend from the plant having substantialhorizontal growth disposed in the decorative cover, but the decorativeborder of the decorative cover must also be provided with excessmaterial which can form a gentle, cushioning pattern which holds,supports and cushions each individual leaf, flower and petiole of theplant to prevent damage thereto and to accommodate horizontal growth ofthe plant while maintaining the integrity of the decorative border ofthe decorative cover. While one embodiment of such a decorative coverhas been described above with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 6, shown inFIGS. 7-9 are three other versions of decorative covers, each of whichis provided with a decorative border that can support and cushion theleaves, flowers and petioles of a plant having substantial horizontalgrowth when the plant is disposed therein.

Shown in FIG. 7 is another embodiment of a flower pot cover ordecorative cover designated by the reference numeral 30 a. Thedecorative flower pot cover 30 a is similar to the decorative flower potcover 30 shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 6 and described hereinbefore, exceptas described below.

The decorative flower pot cover 30 a includes a base 32 a and adecorative border or skirt 34 a. The base 32 a of the decorative flowerpot cover 30 a has a closed lower end 36 a, an open upper end 38 a, anouter peripheral surface 40 a and an object retaining space 42 a. Thedecorative border 34 a of the decorative cover 30 a is provided with anupper end 44 a and a lower end 46 a, wherein the lower end 46 a isconnected to the open upper end 38 a of the base 32 a of the decorativecover 30 a. The decorative border 34 a of the decorative cover 30 aextends from the open upper end 38 a of the base 32 a of the decorativecover 30 a so as to be disposed at an upward and outward angle D of atleast about 40°, and preferably in a range of from about 40° to about55°, relative to a horizontal axis 48 a of the base 32 a of thedecorative cover 30 a.

The decorative border 34 a of the decorative cover 30 a is provided witha length 64 a which is at least substantially equal to the length of theflowers, leaves and petioles of a plant having substantial horizontalgrowth supported thereon when a plant, such as the plant 54 disposed inthe flower pot 56, is disposed in the object retaining space 42 a of thebase 32 a of the decorative cover 30 a, and desirably, the length 64 aof the decorative border 34 a of the decorative cover 30 a is greaterthan the length of the flowers, leaves and petioles supported thereon.The decorative border 34 a of the decorative cover 30 a is configured topermit support of the flowers, leaves and petioles of the plant withoutdamage thereto.

As shown in FIG. 7, at least a portion of the base 32 a and at least aportion of the decorative border 34 a of the decorative cover 30 a areprovided with void areas 130 such as cuts or slots therein which allowfor expansion of the decorative border 34 a, thereby allowing thedecorative border 34 a to form a gentle, cushioning pattern to hold,support and cushion each individual leaf and/or petiole of a delicateplant having substantial horizontal growth and disposed in thedecorative cover 30 a. Such a configuration permits each portion of thedecorative border 34 a of the decorative cover 30 a holding a leaf orleaves, and petiole or petioles, to individually relax and compresssomewhat underneath each leaf/leaves and petiole/petioles, therebyproviding gentle, cushioning support for each individual leaf and/orpetiole while still maintaining the integrity of the decorative border34 a. The portion of the void areas 130 positioned in the base 32 a ofthe decorative cover 30 a are substantially vertical. The portion of thevoid areas 130 positioned in the decorative border 34 a of thedecorative cover 30 a are typically vertical and radiate outwardly fromthe portion of the void areas 130 positioned in the base 32 a of thedecorative cover 30 a, but the positioning of such portion of the voidareas 130 will match the alignment of the decorative border 34 a of thedecorative cover 30 a.

Upon disposal of a plant, such as the plant 54, in the object retainingspace 42 a of the base 32 a of the decorative cover 30 a, the void areas130 expand and allow the angle D at which the decorative border 34 a ofthe decorative cover 30 a is disposed relative to the horizontal axis 48a of the base 32 a of the decorative cover 30 a to decrease, therebyallowing the decorative border 34 a to move toward a compressedcondition while maintaining the integrity of the decorative border 34 a.That is, the angle of the decorative border 34 a of the decorative cover30 a decreases from angle D shown in FIG. 7 to an angle (not shown)similar to angle C of the decorative cover 30 having the plant 54disposed therein of FIG. 5 and which is preferably in a range of fromabout 25° to about 40°, and more preferably about 30°, relative to thehorizontal axis 48 a of the base 32 a of the decorative cover 30 a whena plant is disposed therein. Such an angle permits the decorative border34 a of the decorative cover 30 a to resiliently and gently supportindividual leaves and petioles of a plant having substantial horizontalgrowth when the plant is disposed in the object retaining space 42 a ofthe base 32 a of the decorative cover 30 a to prevent damage thereto andto accommodate the horizontal growth of said plant.

Shown in FIG. 8 is another embodiment of a flower pot cover ordecorative cover designated by the reference numeral 30 b. Thedecorative flower pot cover 30 b is similar to the decorative flower potcover 30 shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 6 and described hereinbefore, exceptas described below.

The decorative flower pot cover 30 b includes a base 32 b and adecorative border or skirt 34 b. The base 32 b of the decorative cover30 b has a closed lower end 36 b, an open upper end 38 b, an outerperipheral surface 40 b and an object retaining space (not shown). Thedecorative border 34 b of the decorative cover 30 b is provided with anupper end 44 b and a lower end 46 b, wherein the lower end 46 b isconnected to the open upper end 38 b of the base 32 b of the decorativecover 30 b. The decorative border 34 b of the decorative cover 30 bextends from the open upper end 38 b of the base 32 b of the decorativecover 30 b so as to be disposed at an upward and outward angle E of atleast about 40°, preferably in a range of from about 40° to about 55°,relative to a horizontal axis 48 b of the base 32 b of the decorativecover 30 b.

The decorative border 34 b of the decorative cover 30 b is provided witha length 64 b which is at least equal to the length of flowers, leavesand petioles of a plant having substantial horizontal growth supportedthereon when the plant, such as the plant 54, is disposed in the objectretaining space of the base 32 b of the decorative cover 30 b, anddesirably, the length 64 b of the decorative border 34 b of thedecorative cover 30 b will be greater than the length of the flowers,leaves and petioles supported thereon. The decorative border 34 b of thedecorative cover 30 b is configured to permit support of the flowers,leaves and petioles of the plant without damage thereto.

Upon forming the base 32 b of the decorative cover 30 b, at least aportion of the base 32 b is provided with billows or corrugations 132formed therein in a substantially horizontal direction. The billows orcorrugations 132 will allow the height of the decorative cover 30 b tobe adjusted, thereby expanding such height by extending the billows orcorrugations 132 and exposing the excess material contained therein. Thebillows or corrugations 132 may also be formed in at least a portion ofthe decorative border 34 b of the decorative cover 30 b, such as in FIG.8, where the corrugations 132 are formed in both the base 32 b and thedecorative border 34 b of the decorative cover 30 b. However, it will beunderstood that the corrugations 132 may be present in only a portion ofthe base 32 b of the decorative cover 30 b alone, or in a portion of thebase 32 b and a portion of the decorative border 34 b of the decorativecover 30 b, or in substantially all of the base 32 b and the decorativeborder 34 b of the decorative cover 30 b.

When the base 32 b of the decorative cover 30 b is provided with billowsor corrugations 132 formed therein, the billows or corrugations 132 willallow the decorative cover 30 b to expand in a vertical direction toincrease the height of the decorative cover 30 b, and, to a lesserextent, the billows or corrugations 132 formed in the base 32 b of thedecorative cover 30 b also allow the decorative cover 30 b to expand ina horizontal direction to increase the diameter of the object retainingspace 42 b of the base 32 b of the decorative cover 30 b. Therefore, thedecorative cover 30 b can accommodate flower pots which vary in size.That is, the billows or corrugations 132 will allow the decorative cover30 b to hold a flower pot having an increased height and/or, to a lesserextent, an increased width. The billows or corrugations 132 will alsoallow for adjustment of the length 64 b of the decorative border 34 b ofthe decorative cover 30 b to accommodate growth of a plant disposedtherein in a horizontal direction.

Upon disposal of a plant, such as the plant 54, in the object retainingspace of the base 32 b of the decorative cover 30 b, the billows orcorrugations 132 provide excess material which extends the decorativeborder 34 b of the decorative cover 30 b, and the angle at which thedecorative border 34 b is disposed relative to the horizontal axis 48 bof the base 32 b of the decorative cover 30 b decreases such that thedecorative border 34 b moves toward a compressed condition whilemaintaining the integrity of the decorative border 34 b. That is, theangle of the decorative border 34 b of the decorative cover 30 bdecreases from angle E shown in FIG. 8 to an angle (not shown) similarto angle C of the decorative cover 30 having the plant 54 disposedtherein of FIG. 5 and which is preferably in a range of from about 25°to about 40°, and more preferably about 30°, relative to the horizontalaxis 48 b of the base 32 b of the decorative cover 30 b. Such an anglepermits the decorative border 34 b of the decorative cover 30 b toresiliently and gently support individual leaves and petioles of a planthaving substantial horizontal growth when the plant is disposed in theobject retaining space of the base 32 b of the decorative cover 30 b.

Shown in FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of adecorative cover designated by the reference numeral 140. The decorativecover 140 includes a flower pot cover 142 and a collar 144. The flowerpot cover 142 includes a base 146 and a decorative border or skirt 148.The base 146 has a closed lower end 150, an open upper end 152, an outerperipheral surface 154 and an object retaining space 156. The decorativeborder 148 is provided with an upper end 158 and a lower end 160,wherein the lower end 160 of the decorative border 148 is connected tothe open upper end 152 of the base 146 of the flower pot cover 140. Thedecorative border 148 extends from the open upper end 152 of the base146 so as to be disposed at an upward and outward angle F of at leastabout 40°, preferably in a range of from about 40° to about 55°,relative to a horizontal axis 162 of the base 146 of the decorativecover 140.

The collar 144 is constructed of a sheet of material which issubstantially flexible. The sheet of material may be formed of the samematerials as the sheet of material from which the flower pot cover 142is formed, which is substantially similar to the sheet of material 50from which the decorative flower pot cover 30 is formed (as shown inFIG. 10 and described in detail hereinbelow), or the sheet of materialfrom which the collar 144 is constructed may be formed of a differentmaterial than the material from which the flower pot cover 142 isformed.

The collar 144 is provided with a lower end 170, an upper end 172 and anopening 176 formed through a portion thereof. The opening 176 of thecollar 144 is generally circularly shaped, but may assume any shapewhich corresponds to the shape of the flower pot cover 142. The collar144 is inserted into an upper portion of the base 146 of the flower potcover 142 such that a lower portion of the collar 144 is substantiallyadjacent the decorative border 148 of the flower pot cover 142. Thelower end 170 of the collar 144 may be generally disposed adjacent theupper end 152 of the base 146 of the flower pot cover 142 and the lowerend 160 of the decorative border 148 of the flower pot cover 142. Thecollar 144 extends upwardly and outwardly from the flower pot cover 142at an angle substantially similar to the angle F at which the decorativeborder 148 extends from the base 146 of the flower pot cover 142. Thatis, the collar 144 is disposed at an angle of at least about 40°, andpreferably in a range of about 40° to about 55°, relative to thehorizontal axis 162 of the base 146 of the flower pot cover 142.

The collar 144 may be bondingly connected to the flower pot cover 142 orto a flower pot disposed within the flower pot cover 142 by any of themethods known in the art. Alternatively, the collar 144 may not beattached to the flower pot cover 142. Methods for providing a decorativecover for a flower pot including a collar are described in U.S. Pat. No.5,077,937 entitled “Apparatus For Providing A Decorative Cover For AFlower Pot Using A Collar” issued to Weder et al on Jan. 7, 1992; U.S.Pat. No. 4,835,834 entitled “Method Of Shaping And Holding A Sheet OfMaterial About A Flower Pot With A Collar”, issued to Weder on Jun. 6,1989; U.S. Pat. No. 5,987,849 entitled “Method For Providing AMulti-Layered Decorative Cover For A Flower Pot”, issued to Weder onNov. 23, 1999; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,665 entitled “Method ForProviding A Decorative Cover For A Flower Pot”, issued to Weder on Jan.4, 2000, the Specifications of which are all hereby expresslyincorporated herein by reference. Therefore, no further discussion ofthe use of the collar 144 with the flower pot cover 142 to form thedecorative cover 140 is required herein.

The portion of the collar 144 of the decorative cover 140 which extendsbeyond the base 146 of the flower pot cover 142 is provided with alength 178 which is at least equal to the length of the flowers, leavesand petioles of a plant having substantial horizontal growth supportedthereon when the plant is disposed within the object retaining space 156of the base 146 of the flower pot cover 142, and desirably, the length178 of the collar 144 will be greater than the length of the flowers,leaves and petioles supported thereon.

The collar 144 is configured to hold, support and cushion eachindividual leaf and/or petiole of the delicate plant having substantialhorizontal growth. Such a configuration permits each portion of thecollar 144 holding a leaf or leaves, and petiole or petioles, toindividually relax and compress somewhat underneath each leaf/leaves andpetiole/petioles, thereby providing gentle, cushioning support for eachindividual leaf and/or petiole. That is, the angles at which the collar144, and therefore the decorative border 148 of the flower pot cover142, are disposed relative to the horizontal axis 162 of the base 146 ofthe flower pot cover 142 decrease in response to the weight of theflowers, leaves and petioles of a plant having substantial horizontalgrowth supported thereon such that the collar 144 and the decorativeborder 148 of the flower pot cover 142 move toward a compressedcondition while maintaining the integrity of the collar 144 and thedecorative border 148 of the flower pot cover 142. That is, the angle Fshown in FIG. 9 decreases to an angle similar to angle C of thedecorative cover 30 having the plant 54 disposed therein of FIG. 5wherein the angle is in a range of from about 25° to about 40°, andpreferably about 30°, relative to the horizontal axis 162 of the base146 of the flower pot cover 142. However, it will be understood that theangle may approach the horizontal axis 162 of the base 146 of the flowerpot cover 142 if the integrity of the collar 144 and the decorativeborder 148 of the flower pot cover 142 is maintained. Such an anglepermits the collar 144 to resiliently and gently support individualleaves and petioles of a plant, such as the plant 54, when the plant isdisposed in the object retaining space 156 of the base 146 of the flowerpot cover 142.

The upper end 158 of the decorative border 148 of the flower pot cover142 and the upper end 172 of the collar 144 may be positionedsubstantially adjacent each other such that the decorative border 148 ofthe flower pot cover 142 and the collar 144 extend from the flower potcover 142 for substantially the same length, or the upper end 172 of thecollar 144 may extend beyond the upper end 158 of the decorative border148 of the flower pot cover 142. When the decorative border 148 of theflower pot cover 142 extends to substantially the same length as thecollar 144, the decorative border may contribute to the functions ofsupporting and cushioning the flowers, leaves and petioles of a planthaving substantial horizontal growth disposed in the decorative cover140.

While FIG. 9 illustrates a decorative cover 140 including the flower potcover 142 and the collar 144, it will be understood that the presentinvention is not limited to the use of the flower pot cover 142 andcollar 144, and a decorative cover may be formed simply by placing thecollar 144 about a flower pot, such as the flower pot 56 as shown inFIG. 4, or by placing the collar 144 about a plant, such as the plant 54shown in FIG. 4. The collar 144 may be bondingly connected to the flowerpot as described herein above, or the collar 144 may not be attached tothe flower pot. When utilized with a flower pot having a plant disposedtherein, the collar 144 will possess all of the characteristics of thecollar 144 of the decorative cover 140 and function in the same mannerto hold, support and cushion each individual leaf and/or petiole of theplant.

For example, the present invention also envisions a decorative assemblyformed of a plant having substantial horizontal growth and a collar forsupporting leaves and petioles of a plant having substantial horizontalgrowth so as to prevent damage thereto. The plant is disposed in aflower pot having an upper end. The collar has a lower end, an upperend, an opening through a portion thereof and a length extending betweenthe upper and lower ends thereof. The lower end of the collar isdisposed substantially adjacent the upper end of the flower pot, and thecollar extends upwardly and outwardly at an angle with respect to theupper end of the flower pot. The length of the collar is at least equalto the length of the leaves and petioles of the plant such that when theleaves and petioles of the plant are positioned on the collar, the angleof the collar relative to a horizontal axis of the flower pot decreasesso that the collar moves toward a compressed condition, therebypermitting the collar to resiliently hold and gently support theindividual leaves and petioles of the plant to prevent damage theretoand to accommodate horizontal growth of the leaves and petioles of theplant.

In yet another example, the present invention also envisions a method ofusing a collar with a plant having substantial horizontal growth. Insuch method, a collar is provided for supporting leaves and petioles ofa plant having substantial horizontal growth so as to prevent damagethereto. The collar has a lower end, an upper end, an opening through aportion thereof and a length extending between the upper and lower endsthereof. The collar is disposed about a flower pot such that a lowerportion of the collar is disposed near an upper end of the flower potand the collar extends upwardly and outwardly at an angle with respectto the upper end of the flower pot. The length of the collar is at leastequal to the length of the leaves and petioles of the plant. Uponpositioning and arranging the leaves and petioles of the plant on thecollar, the angle of the collar relative to a horizontal axis of theflower pot decreases so that the collar moves toward a compressedcondition, thereby permitting the collar to resiliently hold and gentlysupport the individual leaves and petioles of the plant to preventdamage thereto and to accommodate horizontal growth of the leaves andpetioles of the plant.

Description of FIGS. 10 and 11

Turning now to FIG. 10, shown therein is the sheet of material 50utilized to form the decorative cover 30 shown in FIG. 2 and describedin detail hereinbefore. However, it will be understood that thedecorative covers 30 a, 30 b and 140 described herein with reference toFIGS. 7-9 may be constructed of a sheet of material substantiallysimilar to the sheet of material 50, and the decorative covers 30 a, 30b and 140 may be constructed in a substantially similar manner as thatdescribed hereinbelow for the decorative cover 30.

The sheet of material 50 has an upper surface 240, a lower surface 242,and an outer periphery 244. The thickness of the sheet of material 50from which the decorative cover 30 is constructed can vary widely, aslong as the sheet of material 50 can be formed into the decorative cover30 having the characteristics and functions as described herein.Generally, however, the sheet of material 50 from which the decorativecover 30 is constructed will have a thickness of from about 0.1 mil toabout 30 mil. The sheet of material 50 can be constructed of a materialwhich is flexible, yielding and non-shape sustaining.

The sheet of material 50 may be of any shape or combination of shapes,and a circular shape is shown in FIG. 10 only by way of example. Thesheet of material 50 may be any geometric, non-geometric and/orasymmetric shape, as long as the sheet of material 50 functions as shownand described in detail herein.

The sheet of material 50 is constructed from any suitable material thatis capable of being formed into the decorative cover 30 as describedherein. The sheet of material 50 may be fabricated of paper, polymericfilm, foil, metallized film, fabric, fiber, cloth, burlap, andcombinations and laminations thereof.

The term “polymeric film” as used herein includes a thermoplasticresinous material such as, but not by way of limitation, a syntheticpolymer such as a polypropylene or polyethylene. The term “polymericfilm” as used herein also includes a naturally occurring polymer such ascellophane. A polymeric film, as contemplated and described in detailherein, is relatively strong and not as subject to tearing(substantially non-tearable), as might be the case with paper or foil.The term “polymeric film” as used herein also includes extruded,coextruded and expanded core polymeric materials.

The sheet of material 50 may be constructed of a single layer ofmaterial or a plurality of layers of the same or different types ofmaterials. One or more layers of material may be laminated or bondedtogether, completely or partially, by any of the methods known in theart, to form the sheet of material 50. When multiple layers of materialare used to form the sheet of material 50, the layers of material neednot be uniform in size or shape. That is, one layer of material mayextend beyond at least a portion of the outer periphery of another layerof material to form the sheet of material 50 as long as the cushioningeffect of the decorative border 34 of the decorative cover 30 made fromsuch material is maintained. For example, the sheet of material 50 maybe a laminated material comprising a smaller layer of material and alarger layer of material. The base 32 of the decorative cover 30 may beformed of the laminated material, while the decorative border 34 of thedecorative cover 30 may only comprise a single layer of material formedfrom the larger layer of material.

The sheet of material 50 may be formed of a material which haselasticity or may be treated in such a manner as to provide the sheet ofmaterial 50 with elastic characteristics. For example, ethylene vinylacetate may be added to a polymeric film to form a sheet of material 50which has elastic properties. Alternatively, the sheet of material 50may be heated to make the sheet of material 50 more flexible and morepliable.

Preferably, the sheet of material 50 is a laminated material, such as alaminate formed of polymeric film laminated to paper, metallized film oranother polymeric film, or a coextruded material, such as a polymericfilm coextruded with ethylene vinyl acetate.

The sheet of material 50 may be provided with characteristics such asdesigns or decorative patterns which are printed, etched and/or embossedthereon using inks or other printing, etching or embossing materials. Anexample of an ink which may be applied to either surface of the sheet ofmaterial 50 is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,706, entitled “WaterBased Ink On Foil And/Or Synthetic Organic Polymer”, issued to Kingmanon Sep. 15, 1992, and which is hereby expressly incorporated herein byreference.

In addition, the sheet of material 50 may also be provided withcharacteristics such as various colorings, coatings, embossings,flockings, and/or metallic finishes, or other decorative surfaceornamentation applied separately or simultaneously. The sheet ofmaterial 50 may be characterized totally or partially by pearlescent,translucent, transparent, iridescent, neon, holographic, opaque, clearor the like, designs or finishes. Each of the above-namedcharacteristics may occur alone or in combination with othercharacteristics described herein, and may be applied to at least aportion of at least one of the upper surface 240 and the lower surface242 of the sheet of material 50. Moreover, the upper surface 240 and thelower surface 242 of the sheet of material 50 may vary in thecombination of such characteristics. The sheet of material 50 may alsobe partially or completely opaque, translucent, clear and/or tintedtransparent.

A bonding material 246, such as a heat sealable lacquer, may be disposedon at least a portion of the sheet of material 50. The bonding material246 is shown disposed on at least a portion of the upper surface 240 ofthe sheet of material 50 in FIG. 10 for purposes of example only, and itwill be understood that the bonding material 246 may be disposed on atleast a portion of the lower surface 242 of the sheet of material 50 oron at least a portion of both the upper and lower surfaces 240 and 242of the sheet of material 50. The bonding material 246 may be disposed ina strip, in the form of spaced apart spots, or in any geometric,non-geometric and/or asymmetric shape, or any combination thereof,including any pattern or plurality of patterns. The bonding material 246may be disposed on only the portion of the sheet of material 50 whichwill form the base 32 of the decorative cover 30, or the bondingmaterial 246 may be disposed on the portions of the sheet of material 50which will form the base 32 and at least a portion of the decorativeborder 34 of the decorative cover 30. When the bonding material 246 isonly disposed on the portion of the sheet of material 50 which will formthe base 32 of the decorative cover 30, the excess material provided inthe decorative border 34 of the decorative cover 30 can expand easilyand provide more surface area to support the flowers 58, leaves 60 andpetioles 62 of the plant 54 disposed in the decorative cover 30.Alternatively, when the bonding material 246 is disposed on a portion ofthe sheet of material 50 which will form the decorative border 34 of thedecorative cover 30, the decorative border 34 will maintain theconfiguration formed therein, such as the sinusoidal, undulatingscalloped configuration shown in FIG. 3.

In the present embodiment, an article forming system 250, shown in FIG.11, is utilized to form the sheet of material 50 into the decorativeflower pot cover 30. It will be understood, however, that any system maybe utilized to form the sheet of material 50 into the decorative flowerpot cover 30 shown and described in detail herein, so long as thedecorative flower pot cover 30 is formed to function as described indetail and illustrated herein. An article forming system which wouldfunction to form the sheet of material 50 into the decorative flower potcover 30, with some modification as described below, is found in U.S.Pat. No. 4,773,182, entitled “Article Forming System”, issued to Wederet al. on Sep. 27, 1988, which is hereby expressly incorporated hereinby reference. The base 32 of the decorative flower pot cover 30 may beformed by substantially fixing a portion of the sheet of material 50into a plurality of overlapping folds 248 (FIG. 2) to form the base 32of the decorative flower pot cover 30, wherein the fixed overlappingfolds 248 cooperate to retain the decorative flower pot cover 30 in aformed shape. These characteristics, as well as other characteristics offlower pot covers, are discussed in detail in the above-incorporated byreference patents, and it will be appreciated that these characteristicsmay be utilized in the present invention, and are, likewise,incorporated by reference as well.

Referring now to FIG. 11, shown therein is the article forming system250 utilized to form the sheet of material 50 into the decorative flowerpot cover 30. The article forming system 250 includes a male die 252 anda female die 254. The male die 252 has a base portion 256 having anupper end 258, a lower end 260, and an outer surface 262. The male die252 also includes a flared portion 264, which is provided with an upperend 266, a lower end 268 and an outer surface 270. The lower end 268 ofthe flared portion 264 is connected to the upper end 258 of the baseportion 256 of the male die 252. The outer surface 270 of the flaredportion 264 has a specific pattern 272, which produces the undulating,curvilinear, sinusoidal configuration of the decorative border 34 of thedecorative flower pot cover 30 which has a succession of waves andcurves. It will be appreciated that the flared portion 264 of the maledie 252 extends at an angle outwardly and upwardly from the upper end258 of the base portion 256 of the male die 252. The dimensions of thebase portion 256 are slightly larger than the comparable dimensions ofthe outer peripheral surface 70 of the flower pot 56 (FIG. 4) in whichthe plant 54 having substantial horizontal growth is disposed, such thatthe decorative flower pot cover 30 formed from the sheet of material 50utilizing the article forming system 250 will fit generally about theouter peripheral surface 70 of the flower pot 56.

The female die 254 of the article forming system 250 has an upper end276 and a lower end 278. The male die 252 is supported a distancegenerally above and generally aligned with the female die 254. Anopening 280 is formed through the upper end 276 of the female die 254and extends a distance generally toward the lower end 278 of the femaledie 254. The opening 280 forms an inner surface 282 of the female die254. The opening 280 forming the inner surface 282 is shaped and sizedto receive and formingly mate with the outer surfaces 262 and 270 of thebase portion 256 and flared portion 264, respectively, of the male die252 with a sufficient clearance there between to accommodate portions ofthe sheet of material 50 during the forming of the decorative cover 30.

The female die 254 includes a base portion 284 which is substantiallyfrusto-conically shaped. The base portion 284 of the female die 254 isshaped to mate with the base portion 256 of the male die 252 withsufficient clearance there between to accommodate portions of the sheetof material 50 during the forming of the decorative cover 30.

The female die 254 also includes a flared portion 286. The flaredportion 286 of the female die 254 extends at an angle outwardly andupwardly from the base portion 284 of the female die 254. The flaredportion 286 of the female die 254 is shaped to mate with the flaredportion 264 of the male die 252 with sufficient clearance there betweento accommodate portions of the sheet of material 50 during the formingof the decorative cover 30. The inner surface 282 of the flared portion286 of the female die 254 is provided with a specific pattern 288 whichis complementary to the specific pattern 272 of the outer surface 270 ofthe flared portion 264 of the male die 252. It will be appreciated thatthe inner surface 282 of the flared portion 286 of the female die 254,and thus the specific pattern 288 formed therein, mates in alignmentwith the outer surface 270 of the flared portion 264 of the male die252, and thus the specific pattern 272 formed therein, to form theundulating, curvilinear, sinusoidal configuration of the decorativeborder 34 of the decorative flower pot cover 30.

In operation, the male die 252 is in a retracted or storage positionwherein the male die 252 is disposed a distance above and aligned withthe female die 254 substantially as shown in FIG. 11. The sheet ofmaterial 50 is then disposed generally over the opening 280 in thefemale die 254. After the sheet of material 50 has been positioned overthe opening 280 in the female die 254, the male die 252 is moved in adownward direction as indicated by the arrow 290 toward the female die254. As the male die 252 moves in the downward direction 290, the maledie 252 moves to a position wherein the lower end 260 of the baseportion 256 of the male die 252 initially engages the upper surface 240of the portion of the sheet of material 50 disposed over the opening 280in the female die 254. Continued movement of the male die 252 in thedownward direction 290 pushes portions of the sheet of material 50generally into the opening 280 in the upper end 276 of the female die254 until the male die 252 is matingly disposed within the female die254. Heat, pressure, or any other method of forming the non-shapesustaining sheet of material 50 into the substantially shape-sustainingdecorative cover 30 and maintaining the non-shape sustaining sheet ofmaterial 50 as the substantially shape-sustaining decorative cover 30 isthen applied via the article forming system 250. The base portion 284 ofthe female die 254 cooperates with the base portion 256 of the male die252 to form the portion of the sheet of material 50 disposed therebetween into the base 32 of the decorative cover 30, and the flaredportion 286 of the female die 254 cooperates with the flared portion 264of the male die 252 to form the portion of the sheet of material 50disposed there between into the decorative border 34 of the decorativecover 30. Once the sheet of material 50 has been formed into thedecorative cover 30, the male die 252 is moved in an upward direction asindicated by the arrow 292 to the storage position as illustrated inFIG. 11, and the decorative cover 30 is removed from the article formingsystem 250.

The surface area of the portions of the sheet of material 50 which ispushed into the base portion 284 of the female die 274 and which isutilized to form the base 32 of the decorative cover 30 exceeds thesurface area of either the base portion 256 of the male die 252 or thebase portion 284 of the female die 254 and also the outer peripheralsurface 40, including the closed lower end 36 of the base 32, of thedecorative cover 30. This excess material utilized to form the base 32of the decorative cover 30 is utilized to form the overlapping folds 248in the decorative cover 30.

While only one method of forming the decorative covers constructed inaccordance with the present invention has been shown and describedherein, it will be understood that the decorative covers of the presentinvention may be formed by other processes, such as thermoformingprocesses or injection molding, as long as the angle of the decorativeborder of the decorative cover is controlled in the manner as set forthherein, and as long as the length of the decorative border of thedecorative cover is sufficient to support and cushion the leaves,petioles and flowers of the plant having substantial horizontal growthdisposed therein without damage thereto.

Changes may be made in the embodiments of the invention describedherein, or in parts or elements of the embodiments described herein, orin the sequence of steps of the methods described herein, withoutdeparting from the spirit and/or scope of the invention as defined inthe following claims.

1. A decorative cover for supporting leaves and petioles of a planthaving substantial horizontal growth so as to prevent damage thereto,the decorative cover comprising: a base having a lower end, an openupper end, an outer peripheral surface, an object retaining space and ahorizontal axis; and a decorative border having an upper end, a lowerend and a length, the lower end of the decorative border connected tothe open upper end of the base and extending from the open upper end ofthe base so as to be disposed at an outward angle with respect to theopen upper end of the base, the decorative border having a curvilinear,undulating configuration which permits the decorative border to hold,support and cushion individual leaves and petioles of a plant when theplant is disposed in the object retaining space of the base of thedecorative cover and at least a portion of the leaves and petioles arepositioned on the decorative border, wherein when at least a portion ofthe leaves and petioles of the plant are positioned on the decorativeborder, the angle of at least a portion of the decorative borderrelative to the horizontal axis of the base decreases due to the weightof the leaves and petioles of the plant positioned thereon whereby atleast a portion of the decorative border moves toward a compressedcondition, thereby permitting the decorative border to resiliently holdand gently support the individual leaves and petioles of the plant toprevent damage thereto and to accommodate horizontal growth of theleaves and petioles of the plant.
 2. The decorative cover of Claim 1wherein the decorative cover is constructed of at least one sheet offlexible, non-shape sustaining material, and wherein the decorativecover is flexible, resilient and shape-sustaining such that thedecorative cover may be substantially flattened and unflattened.
 3. Thedecorative cover of claim 2 wherein the sheet of material is selectedfrom the group consisting of paper, polymeric film, foil, metallizedfilm, fabric, fiber, burlap and combinations thereof.
 4. The decorativecover of claim 2 wherein the sheet of material is provided with acharacteristic selected from the group consisting of designs, decorativepatterns, colorings, coatings, embossings, flockings, metallic finishes,pearlescent finishes, translucent finishes, transparent finishes,iridescent finishes, neon finishes, holographic finishes or designs,opaque finishes, clear finishes and combinations thereof.
 5. Thedecorative cover of claim 1 wherein the decorative cover is providedwith a plurality of bondingly connected overlapping folds formed in atleast a portion of the base of the decorative cover which cooperate toretain the decorative cover in a formed shape.
 6. The decorative coverof claim 1 wherein the decorative cover is constructed from a sheet ofmaterial having a thickness in a range of from about 0.1 mil to about 30mil.
 7. The decorative cover of claim 1 wherein the plant havingsubstantial horizontal growth is further defined as a gesneriad.
 8. Thedecorative cover of claim 7 wherein the plant having substantialhorizontal growth is further defined as an African violet.
 9. Thedecorative cover of claim 1 wherein the angle of the decorative borderrelative to the horizontal axis of the base of the decorative cover isat least about 40°.
 10. The decorative cover of claim 9 wherein theangle of the decorative border relative to the horizontal axis of thebase of the decorative cover is in a range of from about 40° to about55°.
 11. The decorative cover of claim 1 wherein the base is furtherdefined as having a closed lower end.
 12. The decorative cover of claim1 wherein the length of the decorative border is greater than a lengthof at least a portion of the leaves and petioles of the plant when theplant is disposed in the object retaining space of the base of thedecorative cover.
 13. A decorative assembly, comprising: a plant havingsubstantial horizontal growth, the plant having leaves and petioles; anda decorative cover for supporting leaves and petioles of a plant havingsubstantial horizontal growth so as to prevent damage thereto, thedecorative cover comprising: a base having a lower end, an open upperend, an outer peripheral surface, an object retaining space and ahorizontal axis; and a decorative border having an upper end, a lowerend and a length, the lower end of the decorative border connected tothe open upper end of the base and extending from the open upper end ofthe base so as to be disposed at an outward angle with respect to theopen upper end of the base, the decorative border having a curvilinear,undulating configuration which permits the decorative border to hold,support and cushion individual leaves and petioles of a plant when theplant is disposed in the object retaining space of the base of thedecorative cover and at least a portion of the leaves and petioles arepositioned on the decorative border, wherein when at least a portion ofthe leaves and petioles of the plant are positioned on the decorativeborder, the angle of at least a portion of the decorative borderrelative to the horizontal axis of the base decreases due to the weightof the leaves and petioles of the plant positioned thereon whereby atleast a portion of the decorative border moves toward a compressedcondition, thereby permitting the decorative border to resiliently holdand gently support the individual leaves and petioles of the plant toprevent damage thereto and to accommodate horizontal growth of theleaves and petioles of the plant.
 14. The decorative assembly of claim13 wherein the decorative cover is constructed of at least one sheet offlexible, non-shape sustaining material, and wherein the decorativecover is flexible, resilient and shape-sustaining such that thedecorative cover may be substantially flattened and unflattened.
 15. Thedecorative assembly of claim 14 wherein the sheet of material from whichthe decorative cover is constructed is selected from the groupconsisting of paper, polymeric film, foil, metallized film, fabric,fiber, burlap and combinations thereof.
 16. The decorative assembly ofclaim 14 wherein the sheet of material from which the decorative coveris constructed is provided with a characteristic selected from the groupconsisting of designs, decorative patterns, colorings, coatings,embossings, flockings, metallic finishes, pearlescent finishes,translucent finishes, transparent finishes, iridescent finishes, neonfinishes, holographic finishes or designs, opaque finishes, clearfinishes and combinations thereof.
 17. The decorative assembly of claim13 wherein the decorative cover is provided with a plurality ofbondingly connected overlapping folds formed in at least a portion ofthe base of the decorative cover which cooperate to retain thedecorative cover in a formed shape.
 18. The decorative assembly of claim13 wherein the decorative cover is constructed from a sheet of materialhaving a thickness in a range of from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mil. 19.The decorative assembly of claim 13 wherein the plant having substantialhorizontal growth is further defined as a gesneriad.
 20. The decorativeassembly of claim 19 wherein the plant having substantial horizontalgrowth is further defined as an African violet.
 21. The decorativeassembly of claim 13 wherein the angle of the decorative border of thedecorative cover relative to the horizontal axis of the base of thedecorative cover is at least about 40°.
 22. The decorative assembly ofclaim 21 wherein the angle of the decorative border of the decorativecover relative to the horizontal axis of the base of the decorativecover is in a range of from about 40° to about 55°.
 23. The decorativeassembly of claim 13 wherein, when the plant is disposed in the objectretaining space of the base of the decorative cover and the leaves andpetioles of the plant are positioned on the decorative border of thedecorative cover, the decorative border is in a compressed conditionwherein the angle of the decorative border relative to the horizontalaxis of the base is in a range of from about 25° to about 40°.
 24. Thedecorative assembly of claim 13 wherein the base of the decorative coveris further defined as having a closed lower end.
 25. The decorativeassembly of claim 13 wherein, when the plant is disposed in the objectretaining space of the base of the decorative cover and the leaves andpetioles of the plant are positioned on the decorative border of thedecorative cover, the length of the decorative border is greater than alength of at least a portion of the leaves and petioles of the plant.26. A method of using a decorative cover with a plant having substantialhorizontal growth, the method comprising the steps of: providing a planthaving substantial horizontal growth, the plant having leaves andpetioles, the plant contained within a flower pot having an outerperipheral surface; forming at least one sheet of flexible, non-shapesustaining material into a decorative cover which is flexible, resilientand substantially shape-sustaining, the decorative cover comprising: abase having a lower end, an open upper end, an outer peripheral surface,an object retaining space and a horizontal axis; and a decorative borderhaving an upper end, a lower end and a length, the lower end of thedecorative border connected to the open upper end of the base andextending from the open upper end of the base so as to be disposed at anoutward angle with respect to the open upper end of the base, thedecorative border having a curvilinear, undulating configuration whichpermits the decorative border to hold, support and cushion individualleaves and petioles of a plant when the plant is disposed in the objectretaining space of the base of the decorative cover and at least aportion of the leaves and petioles are positioned on the decorativeborder; disposing the flower pot containing the plant having substantialhorizontal growth into the object retaining space of the base of thedecorative cover, the base of the decorative cover substantiallysurrounding and encompassing the outer peripheral surface of the flowerpot; and positioning and arranging at least a portion of the leaves andpetioles of the plant on the decorative border such that the angle ofthe at least a portion of the decorative border relative to thehorizontal axis of the base decreases the decorative border and movestoward a compressed condition due to the weight of the leaves andpetioles of the plant, whereby at least a portion of the decorativeborder resiliently holds and gently supports the individual leaves andpetioles of the plant to prevent damage thereto and to accommodatehorizontal growth of the leaves and petioles of the plant.
 27. Themethod of claim 26 wherein, in the step of forming at least one sheet offlexible, non-shape sustaining material into a decorative cover, thedecorative cover may be substantially flattened and unflattened.
 28. Themethod of claim 26 wherein, in the step of forming at least one sheet offlexible, non-shape sustaining material into a decorative cover, thedecorative cover is provided with a plurality of bondingly connectedoverlapping folds formed in at least a portion of the base of thedecorative cover which cooperate to retain the decorative cover in aformed shape.
 29. The method of claim 26 wherein, in the step of formingat least one sheet of flexible, non-shape sustaining material into adecorative cover, the sheet of material is selected from the groupconsisting of paper, polymeric film, foil, metallized film, fabric,fiber, burlap and combinations thereof.
 30. The method of claim 26wherein, in the step of forming at least one sheet of flexible,non-shape sustaining material into a decorative cover, the sheet ofmaterial is provided with a characteristic selected from the groupconsisting of designs, decorative patterns, colorings, coatings,embossings, flockings, metallic finishes, pearlescent finishes,translucent finishes, transparent finishes, iridescent finishes, neonfinishes, holographic finishes or designs, opaque finishes, clearfinishes and combinations thereof.
 31. The method of claim 26 wherein,in the step of forming at least one sheet of flexible, non-shapesustaining material into a decorative cover, the sheet of material has athickness in a range of from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mil.
 32. Themethod of claim 26 wherein, in the step of providing a plant havingsubstantial horizontal growth, the plant having substantial horizontalgrowth is further defined as a gesneriad.
 33. The method of claim 32wherein the plant having substantial horizontal growth is furtherdefined as an African violet.
 34. The method of claim 26 wherein, in thestep of forming at least one sheet of flexible, non-shape sustainingmaterial into a decorative cover, the angle of the decorative border ofthe decorative cover relative to the horizontal axis of the base of thedecorative cover is at least about 40°.
 35. The method of claim 34wherein, in the step of forming at least one sheet of flexible,non-shape sustaining material into a decorative cover, the angle of thedecorative border of the decorative cover relative to the horizontalaxis of the base of the decorative cover is in a range of from about 40°to about 55°.
 36. The method of claim 26 wherein, in the step ofpositioning and arranging the leaves and petioles of the plant on thedecorative border such that the angle of the decorative border relativeto the horizontal axis of the base decreases so that the decorativeborder moves toward a compressed condition, the angle of the decorativeborder relative to the horizontal axis of the base is in a range of fromabout 25° to about 40°.
 37. The method of claim 26 wherein, in the stepof forming at least one sheet of flexible, non-shape sustaining materialinto a decorative cover, the base of the decorative cover is furtherdefined as having a closed lower end.
 38. The method of claim 26wherein, in the step of disposing the flower pot containing the planthaving substantial horizontal growth into the object retaining space ofthe base of the decorative cover, the length of the decorative border isgreater than a length of at least a portion of the leaves and petiolesof the plant.